Intercessions for Mozambique from USPG

Flooding, drought and cyclones have all hit Mozambique this year, claiming dozens of lives, destroying crops, causing widespread hunger and leaving thousands of families homeless. USPG mission companion Helen van Koevering believes that the weather fluctuations are the result of global climate changes.

This year’s natural disasters have added to the hardships facing the country’s 19.4 million population, more than half of whom are living on less than 50p a day.

With the help of friends like USPG, the Anglican Church in Mozambique’s two dioceses – Lebombo and Niassa – responded immediately by providing people with temporary homes, food, blankets, mosquito nets, soap and water containers.

Bishop Dinis Sengulane, of Lebombo Diocese, said: ‘If the Lord had not been on our side we would have been in more devastating trouble.’

But there is good news! All denominations of the church are growing, including the Anglican Church. New church leaders are being trained and a two-year discipleship course is proving extremely popular in Niassa Diocese.

Other Anglican-run schemes in Mozambique include a ‘Swords into Ploughshares’ programme that provides communities with agricultural equipment in exchange for explosives and weaponry left over from the civil war that raged in the country for 16 years until 1992, claiming over a million lives.

Sunday 7

This week we pray for the Anglican Church in Mozambique. Pray for the country’s two bishops: Bishop Mark van Koevering, of Niassa Diocese, and Bishop Dinis Sengulane, of Lebombo Diocese.

Monday 8

Pray for the people of Mozambique, many of whom live in impoverished conditions. Pray for communities to recover following natural disasters this year, and give thanks for the intervention of the Anglican Church.

Tuesday 9

Give thanks that Mozambique remains at peace. Pray for peace programmes, such as the Swords into Ploughshares scheme, that aim to rid the country of weapons and bombs that remain cached in villages.

Wednesday 10

Remember the children of Mozambique. Pray for the children’s work of churches and schools, and for healthcare programmes aimed at children.

Thursday 11

Pray for the women of Mozambique, especially members of the Anglican Church and the Mothers’ Union. Pray for their pastoral work among the sick and poor in their families and communities.

Friday 12

Pray for training programmes in both dioceses, including training for clergy and catechists and discipleship schemes. Pray that the trainees might become effective instruments to further the kingdom of God.

Saturday 13

Pray for President Armando Guebuza, the government and the governors of Mozambique’s 10 provinces.

May God, our Creator, be known and worshipped by all,
May Jesus be recognised in all we do and say,
May God’s Holy Spirit be seen in our churches and in us,
And may we reflect God’s compassion, God’s light and God’s joy in Mozambique.
Amen

USPG: Anglicans in World Mission, 200 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4YB. Tel: 020 7378 5678, Fax: 020 7378 5650, www.uspg.org.uk, Registered charity number: 234518

Reproduced with kind permission of USPG: Anglicans in World Mission. USPG works with Anglican Churches in over 50 countries. For free resources, phone 0845 273 1701 or visit www.uspg.org.uk